Scorched by Darkness by Alexandra Ivy Read Free Book Online Page A

a lift of his hands. “That is your duty to discover. Along with the means of getting us out of here.”
    “My duty?”
    The gargoyle shrugged. “I have done my part.”
    “What part?” Finn growled. “Slapping me in the face?”
    “Hey.” Levet puffed out his chest. “I used my magic to ensure that the dragon can follow us. Not to mention standing guard while you napped.” He gave a full-body shudder. “I cannot, however, endure such cold. I have to shift before I freeze.”
    Realizing the creature was about to turn into his stone form, Finn held out his hand. “Wait.”
    Levet clicked his tongue. “What is it now?”
    “What do you mean, you used your magic so the dragon could follow us?”
    The wings fluttered as Levet smiled with smug satisfaction.
    “I used my considerable talents to make sure the portal could not be completely closed,” he said. “Let us hope that Torque has the intelligence to follow.”
    Finn grimaced. He didn’t know anything about the half-breed Torque. Well, nothing beyond the fact that he’d felt an instinctive antagonism. A typical response between two alpha males. But he did know Rya. She would most certainly search for him. And once she found the open portal, she would follow.
    And no doubt become trapped.
    “You have to close it,” he commanded in urgent tones, his words falling on deaf ears as a flurry of sparkles surrounded the small demon.
    Finn squeezed shut his eyes, nearly blinded as the light bounced off the ice. When he at last dared to open them again he discovered that Levet was already turned to stone.
    “Shit,” he breathed.
    Feeling oddly abandoned by his companion, Finn turned to walk back to the wall, placing his hand against the ice. If there was a way into the frozen prison, there had to be a way out.
    Right?
    Especially if the gargoyle truly had managed to keep the portal open with his magic.
    Calling on his powers, he released a series of pulses that made the ice hum at a low frequency. The vibrations would reveal any hidden openings. If nothing else, the pulses might eventually weaken the ice and cause cracks that he could use to bust his way out.
    Refusing to consider the knowledge it might take days, if not weeks, to do any true damage to his prison, Finn concentrated on his task.
    Over and over he released his magic, moving from one wall to another until he was distracted by the sound of crackling. Like water being poured on water.
    Was a portal opening?
    Hurrying to stare at the place where the murky density of the wall was beginning to clear, Finn instinctively held out his hand. A cloud of mist swirled around his fingers, the ice droplets hardening until they formed a perfect dagger.
    It looked harmless, but his enemies swiftly learned that it was sharper than any metal blade.
    Usually when it was slicing through their flesh.
    The murkiness continued to dissipate, until it was as clear as glass despite the fact it was several feet thick. Finn frowned. A shadowed form was approaching from the other side of the wall.
    A female form.
    Fury exploded through him, along with something else. Something that made him gawk at his captor with a fascination that was entirely unacceptable.
    She was fey. He could tell that much by the provocative beauty of her heart-shaped face and the delicate lines of her slender body. But he’d never before seen eyes that looked as if they were made from pure platinum, or hair that was threaded with the colors of autumn. The long tresses tumbled over her shoulders in a cascade of gold and red with copper highlights.
    She was wearing a white robe that blended into the tunnel of ice behind her, but that did nothing to diminish her stunning beauty.
    Trying to banish his odd response to her, he placed his hand against the ice. Her exquisite eyes widened as he unconsciously allowed his magic to continue to pulse, sending vibrations through the air.
    “You must stop,” she said, her voice throaty. She glanced over her shoulder